State

‘Gun Show Loophole’ Bill Headed to House Floor

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Courtesy photo

STATE News:

  • HB77 Bypasses House Appropriation and Finance Committee

SANTA FE – House Bill 77, the “Firearms Transfer Act” is picking up steam after winning bi-partisan approval 13-3 in the House Judiciary Committee Friday.

HB 77 sponsored by Rep. Miguel Garcia, D-Bernalillo was headed to the House Appropriation and Finance Committee (HAFC), but Monday Chairman Henry “Kiki” Saavedra, D-Bernalillo asked to have the bill withdrawn from HAFC saying it didn’t have a fiscal impact.

House Bill 77 will now be placed on the Temporary Calendar, and is scheduled to be debated Read More

State House Highlights: Feb. 4-8

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State House Highlights:

       On the Floor

  • The House Judiciary Committee substitute for House Bill 74, sponsored by Rep. Roberto Gonzales (D-Taos-42), was introduced for third reading on the floor. The bill seeks to preserve affordable housing by amending the Affordable Housing Act, and provides for enforcement of the act and penalties for violation of the act. It passed 67-0, and will move to the Senate.
  • House Joint Memorial 25 as amended, sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Thomson (D-Bernalillo-24), was introduced for third reading on the floor. This memorial
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Garcia Richard Enters Amendment to Limit Class Sizes

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STATE News:

Rep. Stephanie Garcia Richard, D-Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, Sandoval and Santa Fe counties, has entered an amendment to the New Mexico Constitution to limit class sizes in public schools:

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 7

51st legislature – STATE OF NEW MEXICO – first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Stephanie Garcia Richard

A JOINT RESOLUTION 2013

PROPOSING TO AMEND ARTICLE 12 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO BY ADDING A NEW SECTION TO LIMIT CLASS SIZES IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS BY THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR; ALLOWING WAIVERS UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS PRIOR TO THE 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR.

BE Read More

NM Senators Seek U.S. Attorney Applicants

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U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich are accepting applications for the position of United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico.
 
President Obama nominated current U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales to a federal court judgeship Jan. 4, 2013.
 
Upon Gonzales’ confirmation by the Senate, the position of U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico will become vacant.
 
In accordance with their constitutional responsibility to provide advice and consent with respect to federal appointments, Udall and Heinrich will
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Bandelier is Your Backyard!

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The overall winner in the 2012 GBBC photo contest features this Cedar Waxwing. Photo by Ben Thomas, Georgia

BANDELIER News:

Come visit Bandelier for the 16 annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), Feb. 15-18.

After 15 years of success in North America, GBBC is now global. In 2013, anyone, from anywhere on earth, can participate by visiting www.ebird.com or www.birdcount.org and reporting the kinds and numbers of birds they see during the annual count.

During the 2012 count, participants reported 17.4 million bird observations on 104,000 checklists. In northern states, Snowy Owls thrilled Read More

Lawmakers Request Strong New NNSA Administrator

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CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION News:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the New Mexico Congressional Delegation, Sen. Tom Udall, Sen. Martin Heinrich, Rep. Ben Ray Luján and Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, are asking President Obama to nominate a candidate to lead the Nuclear National Security Administration (NNSA) who will work with Congress to reform the agency and maintain the highest scientific and technical capabilities at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories.

In a letter to President Obama, the federal lawmakers who represent the two labs say, “The NNSA has recently suffered from
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Native Women Have Waited Too Long for Justice

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Courtesy photo
 
U.S. SENATE News:
 
WASHINGTON –In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. Thursday urged the Senate to pass the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) with tribal provisions to protect Native American women from domestic abuse.
 
To watch Udall’s speech, click here.
 
Since VAWA’s passage, domestic violence has decreased by over 50 percent. Yet, one in three Native women will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime, and Native women are victims of domestic violence at a disproportionately higher rate.
 
The VAWA provisions would help
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NM House of Representatives Highlights

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Floor of the New Mexico House of Representatives. Courtesy photo

LEGISLATIVE News:

      On The Floor

  • House Bill 308 Space Flight Informed Consent as amended passed the House with unanimous consent. HB308 limits the liability of space flight entities, while also requiring space flight entities to maintain a baseline level of liability insurance. It is the mirror of Senate Bill 240, which has been introduced in the House and is currently being heard in the House Business & Industry Committee. House Bill 308 will now go to the Senate. Whichever bill completes
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LA Federated Republican Women Attend Governor’s Tea

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Lt. Gov. John Sanchez addresses members of the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women and others at the annual Governor’s Tea Feb. 1 at the Governor’s Mansion. Courtesy photo
 
LAFRW News:
 
Ten members and guests of the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women met women from across the state at a visit to the New Mexico Legislature Friday, Feb. 1.
 
The day began with Secretary of State Dianna Duran welcoming the women at a coffee in Capitol North.
 
Several women visited the Secretary of State’s office and Lt. Gov. John Sanchez’ office before attending
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New Mexico Aviation Industry Lands at State Capitol

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NMDTAD News:

SANTA FE – Show your love for aviation at the State Capitol Building on Valentine’s Day and see how it affects jobs, tourism, revenue and mobility for the citizens of New Mexico.

The New Mexico Airport Managers Association, in conjunction with the New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division, will host Aviation Day at The Roundhouse 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb.14 in the West Wing.

Those on hand with displays will include The New Mexico Aviation Aerospace Association, Balloon Fiesta, EMS Services, Recreational Aviation Foundation, Air Care Alliance, Aircraft Owners Read More